Lapis lazuli is a rock composed of a mixture of several different minerals
including lazurite, huaynite, sodalite, noselite, calcite and pyrite. Diopside, augite,
mica, and hornblende may also be present in small amounts.

Lapis lazuli is imitated today by a number of methods typically involving the use
of dyes on a variety of natural rocks and on synthetic materials.

Some mineral dealers use dyes in combination with the crushing and reconstitution
of lower grade lapis lazuli to make "re-constituted lapis lazuli".

The term denim lapis is sometimes used in referring to lapis lazuli with lighter shades of blue.

The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is the
same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afganistan where it was originally
mined more than 6000 years ago. This location near Badakshan is still mined today.

Lapis lazuli was often made into jewelry,
carvings, amulets and talismans which were believed to have occult powers.
It was used by the ancient Egyptians in many religious ceremonies, and was
often used as an inscription stone for various passages
from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Lapis lazuli was one of the stones in
the 'Breastplate of Judgement' of
Aaron, described in the Bible (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30).
Lapis lazuli was said to dispell melancholy
and depression, and to cure recurring fevers. It was also said to impart
ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it.

Up until the nineteenth century, lapis lazuli was ground up and mixed with
oil to produce the deep
blue-green pigment known as ultramarine which meant literally
beyond the sea, as the lapis lazuli was brought from far away by ship.
Since 1828, this pigment has been produced synthetically from a roasted mixture
of kaolin clay, sodium sulfate and charcoal.

Lapis lazuli today is still a very popular lapidary material. It is made into a variety of
hand-crafted objects such as carvings, spheres, beads and cabochon gems, as well as a great variety of lapis lazuli jewelry items.